VICE President Jejomar C. Binay and former Interior Secretary Manuel Araneta Roxas II were the only presidential candidates who signed for the covenant for Truthful, Responsible, Upright, Transparent and Honest Elections (TRUTH) held at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila after the Mass presided by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Monday.
Fifteen senatorial aspirants also signed the covenant. The presidential candidates who failed to attend the covenant signing were: Sen. Grace Poe, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
Binay was accompanied by his daughter Sen. Nancy Binay while Roxas came with his wife Korina Sanchez.
No vice presidential candidates were present but Gail Robredo, daughter of Liberal Party Rep. Leni Robredo of Camarines Sur signed the TRUTH covenant for her mother.
In his homily, Tagle said that Filipinos should consider having an election as a “blessing.”
Tagle stressed that the Roman Catholic Church is not endorsing any candidate. “If there is an election there’s excitement but there is also anxiety. In a democratic community, if there’s democracy there is an election. Election is a blessing,” Tagle said. He stressed that for Filipinos election is just an ordinary event but should be considered as a blessing because in some countries there are those who are not entitled to vote.
“Totoo meron panganib [sa election] puwede ba tingnan din ang election ay pagkakataon ng biyaya sa ating bansa. Bahagi ng democracy. Ang democracy ay nakatayo sa foundation sa participation sa iba’t- ibang level at iba’t—ibang pamamaraan. Isang pamamaraan ng participation. Ang isang paraan in democracy ay election,” Tagle explained.
He added: “We participate through our vote in forging the destiny of our country. What a blessing. Mahirap ka, mayaman ka, may pinag- aralan ka, wala kang pinag-aralan… kapag election mapalad ka, puwede ka maki-isa. Sa pamamagtian ng pagboto.”
Meanwhile, 15 senatorial candidates attended the Mass and signed the covenant namely: Former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan III, former Metro Manila Development Authority chief Francis Tolentino, former police Special Action Force commander Getulio Napeñas; Sen. Vicente Sotto III, former Justice Secretary Leila de lima, lawyer Lorna Kapunan, migrant worker advocate Susan Ople, Cresento Paez, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, Roman Romulo, Sulu Princess Jacel Kiram, broadcaster Rey Langit, Anna Theresia Risa Hontiveros Baraquel, Martin Romualdez and Dante Liban.
Fr. Anton Pascual, Radio Veritas presidnt, said that the Roman Catholic Church said the signing was voluntary and it is the candidates choice to sign or not.
“It’s unfortunate they were not able to come,” he said but added that the organizers understand that others may be busy with their campaign sorties.
Also present was Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista.
Pascual said the event is also spiritual preparation for the coming elections.